Chloe and Oscar pull on their hats in memory of dad

Chloe and Oscar pull on their hats in memory of dad

A BORDERS brother and sister who lost their father to a brain tumour are starring in a marketing campaign to help raise funds for finding a cure for the disease.

Chloe Lowther, 11, and her nine-year-old brother Oscar are featuring in this year’s national Wear A Hat Day campaign by the Brain Tumour Research charity.

The Peebles siblings were invited to take part to represent Scotland and their images will be seen across the country as the campaign is launched ready for Brain Tumour Awareness month in March.

Across the UK, other children who have either been bereaved by a brain tumour, are living with a brain tumour or have a close family member who has been diagnosed, are also taking part to represent their regions.

They are all donning their best headwear from beanies to cowboy hats, trilbies to Panamas, baseball caps to novelty headpieces, and are asking others to join them for Wear A Hat Day, which takes place on Friday, March 29.

The event is expected to smash all records as it marks its 10th year.

Chloe and Oscar’s dad Matt was diagnosed after collapsing at home with an aggressive and incurable glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumour.

Despite undergoing surgery and chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, Matt passed away less than two years later, aged 38, in March 2016, not long after his 10th wedding anniversary.

Mum Gill, a teaching secretary at Edinburgh College of Art, said: “When Matt was diagnosed, we were told that the average life expectancy of this type of tumour was 18 to 24 months.

"The grieving process for me started 18 months before Matt died as the two of us came to terms with the idea that we were not going to have the life together we planned.

"I spent a lot of time listening to a playlist we compiled which represented our 15 years together.

“Now I am doing my best to give our children the childhood we had planned together.

“I am so proud of Oscar and Chloe for being part of the Wear A Hat Day campaign.

"It means so much to my family and me to help contribute towards a cure, so it’s an honour to have them take part. Chloe and Oscar had such a fun time at the photoshoot too and it will be a lovely memento for them to look back on.”

Wear A Hat Day also has the backing of supermodel, businesswoman and brain tumour survivor Caprice who underwent surgery to remove a meningioma brain tumour two years ago.

A patron of Brain Tumour Research, Caprice plays a key role in raising awareness of the disease and campaigning for the government and the larger cancer charities to increase national investment in research. Also supporting this year’s fundraiser is Strictly Come Dancing finalist Debbie McGee who lost her magician husband Paul Daniels to the disease three years ago.

Corporate supporters already signed up for the fundraiser include Specsavers, Hobbycraft, and Venture Studios – the latter worked with families across the UK who have been affected by brain tumours to create the stunning portraits used in the campaign.

Also taking part will be hundreds of schools, workplaces, and individuals who will don their hat of choice and hold a whole host of hat-themed fundraising events in support of Brain Tumour Research.

Sue Farrington Smith, Chief Executive of Brain Tumour Research, told us: “We are extremely grateful to Chloe and Oscar and their mum for helping us to launch Wear A Hat Day 2019.

"I know that people will be both distressed and inspired to hear the stories of all of these families who, like my own, know the pain of a brain tumour diagnosis.

“We are entirely committed to easing this pain by improving treatment options for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, historically, just one percent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease; Brain Tumour Research is proud to be changing this.

“The sad truth is that brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age and this means the impact on families is enormous. Too many children are losing siblings, parents and grandparents, too many parents are enduring the agony of their child’s diagnosis, and society as a whole continues to bear the burden of increased costs through the NHS, lost taxes, and demands on the benefits system.”

Wear A Hat Day has raised over a million pounds since the launch of Brain Tumour Research 10 years ago.

The big day will see schools, workplaces, families and individuals across the UK fundraising and taking part in fun events to raise awareness of brain tumours and help fund life-saving research.

Funds raised will develop the charity’s network of brain tumour research centres in the UK where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

To get involved, or donate, please visit: www.wearahatday.org or text HAT to 70660 to donate £5.

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here